When successful model Ciara Cain wakes up in hospital, remembering nothing of the weeks she has been missing, her only clues are the ugly words carved into her skin. According to the police she was a victim of the Cutter, a serial killer who has already murdered three women. For her protection the police and her doctors give a press conference, announcing that because her amnesia is organically caused, her memory loss is permanent. But, whether her memory returns or not is anybody’s guess.
Overnight, Ciara’s glamorous life is gone. Her scars have killed both her modelling career and her relationship with her rich boyfriend. With nothing to keep her in New York, she returns to her home town of Seattle, moves in with her sister and goes about building a new life. But when her sister lets it slip that Ciara’s memory is returning, the killer comes after her again. If Ciara is to stay alive, she must keep one step ahead of the Cutter.

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That single thought pounded through her mind as she hurtled through the woods. The blackness had dropped all at once, and now the trees were merely darker shadows against a dark night. The rain came down hard. Lightning cracked, sounding so much like a gunshot that she muffled a scream. But she had not been hit. She was still alive. She ran on.

Branches and bushes whipped at her, scratching her arms and legs. She tripped over an exposed root and crashed to the ground, but was back on her feet in an instant.

A brilliant flash of lightening was followed by thunder. Ka-boom. Everything that had been black a moment ago became white. Had she been spotted? No, surely not.

A crunching sound came from her right. She whipped her head toward it and picked up her pace. Her breathing was ragged, short puffs of steam in the frigid April air. It couldn’t have been more than fifty degrees. Sweat and rain mixed with the dirt and blood from her countless wounds and ran down her face and neck in rivulets. Thanks to the adrenaline pumping through her veins, she was numb to the cold and the pain, but she would feel it later—if she got out of here alive.

Please God, let me live.

But she’d had no real food for days, no water except the occasional sip. Her body couldn’t keep going much longer. She was close to collapsing.

Must. Keep. Going.

If she wanted to stay alive, she needed to put as much distance as possible between herself and her captor. She had no idea how long she’d been running or in which direction she was going. Had her kidnapper even noticed she’d escaped? Was that monster already on her trail, getting closer with every passing second? A horrendous thought came to her. She could be running in a circle, her every step bringing her closer to her jailer. A sob escaped her throat.

Dear God. Please. Please.

She squinted, trying to see through the inky night. There had to be a road, a house, something, and then she saw them. Some distance away there were lights, and her last vestiges of hope crashed.

Flashlights.

Had a posse been formed? Were they closing in on her? In her panic, she tripped and came down hard, again. This time she thought she might have broken an arm. She was crying now. She’d come so close. But she would be caught. And she would die.

She looked up at the lights moving through the trees, and blinked. Could her imagination be playing tricks on her? She stared, and in moment of clarity she understood. Those weren’t flashlights. They were headlights. Headlights meant cars, and cars meant a road. Just ahead, maybe a few hundred yards farther, lay safety.

She had to keep going. She struggled to her feet, cradling her sore arm. She made her way, pushing through brambles and bushes until she came to a steep embankment. She crawled up and then over the guardrail. A car whizzed by, blaring its horn.

“Wait. Stop!” she yelled at the next one when it was still a distance away, but it drove by too. “Help me!” she shouted after it. She limped into the road, determined to make the next one stop. Tires screeched. There was a thud. And then she went flying through the air, coming to a bone-crushing thump on the hard pavement.

Through the mist in her mind she heard the sound of running footsteps, then a woman’s voice. “Oh, my God. Is she dead?”

A man’s voice, pleading. “I swear. It wasn’t my fault. She ran right in front of me.”

Jason Luthor has spent a long life writing for sports outlets, media companies and universities. His earliest writing years came during his coverage of the San Antonio Spurs as an affiliate with the Spurs Report and its media partner, WOAI Radio. He would later enjoy a moderate relationship with Blizzard Entertainment, writing lore and stories for potential use in future games. At the academic level he has spent several years pursuing a PhD in American History at the University of Houston, with a special emphasis on Native American history.

His inspirations include some of the obvious; The Lord of the Rings and Chronciles of Narnia are some of the most cited fantasy series in history. However, his favorite reads include the Earthsea Cycle, the Chronicles of Prydain, as well as science fiction hits such as Starship Troopers and Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?

The last of humanity is trapped at the top of an isolated apartment tower with no memory of how they got there or why. All travel beneath Floor 21 is forbidden, and nobody can ever recall seeing the ground floor. Beneath Floor 21, a sickness known as the Creep infests that halls of the Tower. A biological mass that grows stronger in reaction to people’s fear and anger, the Creep prey’s on people by causing them to hallucinate until they’re in a state of panicking, before finally growing strong enough to lash out and consume them. Only a small team known as Scavengers are allowed to go beneath Floor 21 to pillage the lower levels in search of food and supplies.

Jackie is a brilliant young girl that lives far above the infection and who rarely has to worry about facing any harm. However, her intense curiosity drives her to investigate the bottom floors and the Creep. To deal with her own anxiety and insecurities, she documents her experiences on a personal recorder as she explores the secrets of the Tower. During the course of her investigation, Jackie will find herself at odds with Tower Authority, which safeguards what remains of humanity, as she attempts to determine what created the Creep, how humanity became trapped at the top of the Tower, and whether anyone knows if escape is even possible.

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I believe so. I’ve felt a passion for writing ever since I was a child, and I’ve loved telling stories going back to the days when I was using toys. I always enjoyed creating narratives, so I believe I was always fated, at some level, to write for a living.

What was your inspiration for FLOOR 21?

A combination of things. The initial spark was watching a girl rappel to the bottom of a hotel in The Walking Dead, knowing zombies would be awaiting her. I thought it would be interesting if there was a story about a girl trapped at the top of a tower with no real idea of the horrors that waited beneath. Beyond that, I was inspired by a lot of games. Lone Survivor is the story of a man trying to break out of his zombie infested apartment complex, and OFF is a French surrealist narrative about a man trying to break out of some alternative world filled with ghosts. I wanted to blend that horror into a dystopian narrative, and wanted to retain some of the surrealist mystery as part of it. The end result was a disease that was less like zombies and more like Cthulhu.

What themes do you like to explore in your writing?

The most consistent theme in my writing is that of the young outsider, the people on the margins who are well adjusted enough to fit in if they wanted, but who are also such mischiefs that they can’t do so happily. Almost all my work examines anxious, depressed, or lonely people that have never really been the center of attention but who, beneath their social antagonism, do want to have genuine relationships, are smart, talented, and have the potential to be world changers.

How long did it take you to complete the novel?

A week. That was the first draft. I was grinding out about 10,000 words a day during the Thanksgiving break. The first edit introduced a lot of dialogue, and the second edit polished up the rough edges, so the entire writing and editing process took about two months. I finished at the end of November and submitted it for consideration at the beginning of February.

Are you disciplined? Describe a typical writing day.

I own and operate a writing and editing service so I write every day for a living, but my creative side comes in ebbs and flows. When I’m writing a book, I sit down every day and attempt to make sure I get out at least 2,000 words minimum, and 5,000 words ideally. Between books, I can let long periods of time go by while I’m trying to find new inspiration.

What did you find most challenging about writing this book?

It was actually the easiest thing I ever wrote. I think the challenge, for me, was integrating dialogue into the narrative. I wrote the original draft almost entirely past tense, since the narrative format is that of a person making an audio recording. Adding dialogue and action required me to be creative in switching to the present tense. In the end, it worked because as people, we switch between past and present tense all the time while narrating to one another. I just had to find the right cues that alerted readers to the switch.

What do you love most about being an author?

I get to explore worlds and inspire people. There’s nothing like getting emails or messages from people who’ve felt inspired by my characters or who are desperately seeking answers to the questions I’ve posed in my stories.

Did you go with a traditional publisher, small press, or did you self publish? What was the process like and are you happy with your decision?

I was published through the Kindle Scout program, a kind of hybrid indie-traditional system. Amazon regularly promotes my work a few times a year, but I’m also responsible for some of my own promotion, although that isn’t too different from the way a small publisher operates. I retain full individual rights to the physical and audio copies as well as the movie rights.

As to whether I’m happy with it? Yes. I don’t think, as an indie author, I could have built my platform rapidly enough for my liking. I’ve had thousands of people buy the book and move on to the sequel, so Amazon has helped me expand my writer’s platform rather quickly.

Benjamin’s Field: Rescue’ has been awarded a five-star review by the literary site ‘Reader’s Favorite’ (readersfavorite.com).

Benjamin’s Field follows a rural farm family over the course of sixty years from the viewpoint of the youngest member, Jeremy Kyner. Beginning with America’s entry into World War I, Jeremy and his family are followed through war, peace, triumph, tragedy, heartbreak, and final happiness as the reader examines the role of family loyalty versus individual need, personal liberty and how it relates to society’s demands, religious prejudice, racism, intolerance, the role of charity, and the overwhelming need for humans to forgive one another. While still in manuscript form, Benjamin’s Field, Book One, Rescue, was advanced to the “Best Sellers Chart” of the peer review website YouWriteOn.com. In Book One, “Rescue,” a widowed farmer suffers an unspeakable loss during World War I. Burdened with grief, he learns from his nemesis, a dogmatic Catholic priest, that his son’s fiance has given birth to their crippled child. Unable to cope with the child’s deformity and confounded by his illegitimate birth, the farmer is battered by those closest to him with accusations of cruelty and intolerance until he finally reveals his true feelings and the reasons underlying his apparent bigotry. Set in a historical context, Benjamin’s Field is a compelling story about human dignity overcoming adversity, prejudice, and hatred. Interwoven with lighter moments, this dramatic and moving tale will take the reader on an emotional and sometimes humorous journey.”

Book Two: Ascent

In Book Two, “Ascent,” Jeremy Kyner, now a teenaged boy, becomes the focus of his teacher’s animosity because of his infirmity. With the help of two dedicated school friends and an unconventional Jewish blacksmith, he takes to the sky, defeating his teacher’s plans to institutionalize him and forcing her to divulge her own, dark, secret.

Benjamin’s Field is a historical novel about human dignity overcoming adversity, prejudice, and hatred. Interwoven with lighter moments, this dramatic and moving story will take the reader on a journey of inner exploration.

Book Three: Emancipation

Book Three, “Emancipation,” opens as America is on the cusp of World War II. Jeremy Kyner, now a man, is barred from military service at a time when America is almost defenseless against marauding German submarines. Finally joining a group of volunteer civilian pilots that represents the country’s best hope to counter the Germans, Jeremy confronts a deadly enemy from an unexpected quarter and is offered a chance of achieving final emancipation.

Benjamin’s Field is a historical novel about human dignity overcoming adversity, prejudice, and hatred. Interwoven with lighter moments, this dramatic and moving novel will take the reader on a journey of inner exploration.

J. Knights is a retired FBI Special Agent. His assignments included violent crimes and fugitives, property crimes, civil rights investigations, and foreign counterintelligence. He was a surveillance pilot, SWAT sniper, media representative, and worked in the FBI’s technical investigations program. Knights also volunteered as a Civil Air Patrol pilot, squadron commander and public information officer. He is an emeritus member of the Imperial Public Relations Committee of Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children. A native of New England, Knights resides in southwestern Pennsylvania with his wife and honeybees. He has authored several published articles on law enforcement recruiting. Benjamin’s Field is his first novel.

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Anna del Mar writes hot, smart romances that soothe the soul, challenge the mind, and satisfy the heart. Her stories focus on strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who defy their limits to protect the women they love. She’s the author of The Asset, At the Brink and her newest romantic suspense, The Stranger. Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.

Q: Congratulations on the release of your latest book, The Stranger. To begin with, can you gives us a brief summary of what the story is about and what compelled you to write it?

A: The Stranger is my third novel, my newest romantic suspense and the second book of my Wounded Warrior Series, following on the heels of the Amazon bestseller, The Asset. Just in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to read the novels of the series in order, because each book is a standalone journey.

In The Stranger, Alaskan tycoon and ex-military pilot Seth Erickson is fighting his own demons, but when he finds Summer Silva, a beautiful, warmth-loving, Miami woman stranded in the frozen wilderness, he’ll do everything in his power to keep her safe from murder, treason, and the ruthless Alaskan winter.

I wrote The Stranger after my kids dragged me out of the comfort of my writing studio. I’m not exactly the outdoor type, you know, but Alaska was totally stunning and irresistible to my writer’s mind. Hiking the backcountry, riding in tiny airplanes, floating in aluminum boats over icy lakes, it was all knew to me. I knew I wanted to drop a couple of feisty characters haunted by their demons in the middle of all that spectacular, ruthless beauty and watch them deal with the challenges as their lust turned into forever love.

Q: What do you think makes a good romantic suspense? Could you narrow it down to the three most important elements? Is it even possible to narrow it down?

A: I think we talked about this the last time you and I sat down to chat, when The Asset was released. My views haven’t changed. I don’t know that we can define the elements of a good romantic suspense per se, but I think strong, vivid, authentic and evolving characters make a difference, as does a well-constructed plot that challenges and defies the characters and a rich, interesting setting. In that sense, Alaska was the dream setting for a romantic suspense. In the end, the relationship is always at the center of the story and our ability to connect to those characters is key. When I write, I always want to reach out and touch the reader’s heart.

Q: How did you go about plotting your story? Or did you discover it as you worked on the book?

A: I had a general idea of how the story was going to go when I started to write, but in The Stranger, the characters really drove the plot and created their own challenges and fireworks. In that sense, Summer and Seth’s journey was very much their own. These were two very opinionated, capable people who valued self-reliance and had no clue how much they needed each other. No bossy author was going to tell them otherwise. They had to figure it out themselves.

Q: Tell us something interesting about your protagonist and how you developed him or her. Did you do any character interviews or sketches prior to the actual writing?

A: I had a pretty good idea of who Summer and Seth were when I started writing. I didn’t do any character interviews, but I jolted down the basics. Summer is a warmth-loving Miami architect who went to Alaska only because her reckless younger sister ran away with a guy she met on the internet. Alaska has never been on her list of places she wanted to visit. Summer is on the fiery side, but she’s also dutiful and hardworking. As an architect, she designs plans, buildings, lives. Being out of control challenges her in every way. But Summer also has a secret, one that makes her distrustful and vulnerable in a way she hates, the secret that leads her to Seth’s bed. That secret is at the core of who she is and who she will become as she falls in love with Seth.

As to Seth, he was also very defined from the start. He’s a powerful Alaskan tycoon dealing with a quarreling family and a hostile takeover attempt. He’s also a helicopter pilot, a wounded warrior struggling to recover from injuries he sustained while serving in Afghanistan, a man haunted by his past and fighting his own demons. Seth is your classic alpha, blunt, systematic and precise, always cool and in command, a man who despises emotion and sticks to his icy logic… until he meets Summer Silva.

Q: In the same light, how did you create your antagonist or villain? What steps did you take to make him or her realistic?

A: Summer and Seth’s foes were people who were very close to them. In that sense, I used the values that made them two really outstanding people—like the loyalty they each have for their respective families—to play up the conflict with villains that are also traitors. At the end of the day, our greatest strengths are also our greatest weaknesses.

Q: How did you keep your narrative exciting throughout the novel? Could you offer some practical, specific tips?

A: I think pace and timing are important for the suspense part of the genre. I think relationship progression does the same for the romantic angle. And then there are the disruptions. Those always up the ante.

Q: Setting is also quite important and in many cases it becomes like a character itself. What tools of the trade did you use in your writing to bring the setting to life?

A: Alaska is for sure the third protagonist of this story and I didn’t hold back. The landscape, the wildlife, the daring, it all made it into the story. I played up the contrasts, showed Seth as the master of his environment and dropped tropical Summer into one bad situation after another. She came across icy desolate roads, Bering Sea superstorms, bears, the wilderness and even a plane crash in the Alaskan Range. The tools of the trade were piled all over my desk.

Q: Did you know the theme(s) of your novel from the start or is this something you discovered after completing the first draft? Is this theme(s) recurrent in your other work?

A: The themes were familiar to me, because my Wounded Warrior series is all about lust and love’s extraordinary healing powers. At the end of day is not about the wounds at all. It’s about the joy of redemption and the power that we all have to reclaim our lives and love with all we’ve got. At the same time, I don’t want to tell the same story twice. The Stranger is a very different novel from The Asset. And it should be.

Q: Where does craft end and art begin? Do you think editing can destroy the initial creative thrust of an author?

A: The craft part is in the basic techniques, grammar, punctuation, formatting, mechanics. The art part is in how it all comes together into a readable symphony. There are editors out there who can tear apart a manuscript and kill an author’s spirit. But there are also many amazingly talented editors who can help an author to claim her voice and amplify her creative thrust. I know because I work with a couple of them.

Q: What three things, in your opinion, make a successful novelist?

A: Patience, grit and perseverance. Oh, and you have to have a story to tell. You can’t just spin words around an inert vortex.

Q: A famous writer once wrote that being an author is like having to do homework for the rest of your life. What do you think about that?

A: I hated homework when I was in school. I did it, but I didn’t like it. Writing is totally different for me. I love writing.

Q: Are there any resources, books, workshops or sites about craft that you’ve found helpful during your writing career?

A: If you are a romance writer, the Romance Writers of America is a must. I love their magazine and they have extensive resources available to help develop writers at all levels. I also like that they have lots of chapters in lots of places. If you have a need to hang out with other writers, check out your local chapter. There’s tons of helpful sites, books and workshops out there. Take a look, read the reviews, see which ones offer you the best fit. Finally, if at all possible, find yourself a good editor. He or she can offer personalized assistance and can make a huge difference in your rate of progress.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers about the craft of writing?

A: Writing is a vocation, an act of love. Everything else is just hype.

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Inside the Book:

Title: Putting Out the Fire: Nurturing Mind, Body & Spirit in the First Week of Loss and BeyondAuthor: Claire M. Schwartz

Release Date: May 1, 2015

Publisher: Helian Press Books

Genre: Self-Help/Grief and Bereavement

Format: Ebook/Paperback

The phone rings – your breath falls away – and each moment becomes a lifetime. The death of someone significant in your world can rewrite the scope and breadth of who you are. But in this exact moment of decisions, questions, family stress, and legalities, what do you do first and how do you cope?

When author Claire M. Schwartz lost her mother suddenly when she was 24, she experienced this exact thought process. But with all the misinformation out there about Grief & Loss, and without tools that actually made her feel better, she fell apart. After 20+ years on her healing journey, and over two dozen more losses, she brings you the Truths that no one will tell you and the Tools to truly bring you support and clarity in the initial hours and days following a death.

In this slim and personal book, you will learn:

– How to practice Self-Care during this intense emotional time

– The Ten Tall Tales of Grief & Loss ™

– the things we get told that may be well-meaning, but can be so hurtful and destructive

– how to respond and plus compassionate ideas that will better support you

– Who to trust and who to avoid, in the near-term and the long-term

– How to manage funeral arrangements, the legal bits and all those details that can make you nuts, but must be done

– Ways to celebrate your loved one, as well as what to do when the deceased was not so loved…..

– What to focus on after the first week, and what to expect in the longer term

We all experience loss in life – but what is very difficult to find is truthful advice that makes sense, and practical tools that anyone can use. This book tackles both, with compassion and clear practicality, with heart and with wisdom. There is no other book out there that focuses solely on this first, most-intense and exhausting period. It will support you when you need it most and get your healing journey started on the right foot.

Meet the Author:

Claire M. Schwartz is from the Detroit suburbs and comes from a place she calls The Dark Ugly™. She lived in a lovely town, went to a private school for gifted kids, and had cultured and educated parents. Yet Grief & Loss have followed her as long as she can remember – trauma, violence, & neglect – loss of safety and security, loss of confidence, loss of grandparents, friends and animal companions, loss of health, opportunity and sense of place in the world. The pivot point of her life was the sudden death of her mother in 1995, which changed her world forever. Yet recovery was painstakingly slow, wrapped up in misinformation, confusion and more pain. After years of therapy, failures and mistakes, her life’s goal has been to find the answers that made no sense when her healing journey began. Now more than 20 years and 30+ losses on, she is bringing all that she has learned into one slim and powerful volume, in the hope that you suffer less than she did on her healing quest.

Claire holds a BA in psychology from the University of Michigan, is a Spiritual Counselor, Reiki Master Teacher, Certified Professional Coach and Interfaith Minister. She is happily married in New Jersey, surrounded by cats, great food and the best of friends.

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Inside the Book:

Title: Corruption

Author: Mike Gill

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Genre: Fiction

Format: Ebook

Milo Devine had spent his life cutting corners and bending the rules to make his fortune until a late-night phone call from Parvez Iqbal helps him discover a conscience that leads him into a world of corruption and crime beyond his imagination. Politics, business, and organised crime merge into one as Milo investigates the bad guys while his friends perish at the hands of two gangs of ruthless criminals who think nothing of killing in the name of business. Just as he thinks he has won the day, the tables turn as his close friend, Simon, betrays him, and Milo becomes the next target for the assassins. Hiding out in Ireland with professional killers on his trail, Milo is soon faced with a choice: finish the fight or run for his life.

Meet the Author:

Mike Gill is a senior human resource adviser working in local government. His experience in investigating allegations of job fixing, local tax evasion, and misappropriation of grants in a northern local authority form the basis of Corruption. Mike’s evidence gathered from his investigations were supplied to an independent review team, police and auditors looking into the causes of summer riots in a north Manchester town. Mike lives in Oldham and works in West Yorkshire.

Giveaway

Mike is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice

Inside the Book:

Have you ever wished for a handbook that could help you train your children to become upstanding, responsible, and successful adults?

Unfortunately, many parents feel compelled to raise their children in the same way they were raised, despite the fact that the world is very different than it was when they were children. As a result they may be destined to repeat mistakes their parent’s made and they risk failing to give their children valuable tools they may need to succeed.

Dr. Johnny Holloway, the founder and senior pastor of Cup of Salvation Deliverance Church & Ministries in Durham, North Carolina, helps you transform your approach with this faith-based guide to parenting. Learn how to:

• build relationships with children based on love and respect;
• recognize when children are going through difficult times;
• help children confront and overcome the problems they face; and
• set high but reasonable expectations for children.

Even if you grew up in a loving home, you can improve upon the way you were raised and give your children the tools they need to navigate life’s toughest challenges.

Overcome your doubts and fears, and join the author as he looks back at his own upbringing and explores how to Train Up A Child.

About the Author

Dr. Johnny Holloway (pictured here with his mother) is the founder and senior pastor of Cup of Salvation Deliverance Church & Ministries in Durham, North Carolina. He is an internationally recognized theologian, a family and relationship counselor, and a spiritual father to many men and women. He and his wife, Pastor Deborah G. Holloway, have five adult children and fourteen grandchildren.

Giveaway

Dr. Johnny is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice

Pages

Foreword Best Book of the Year Winner, 2011 Global eBooks Awards Winner, National Best Books Award Finalist and EPPIE Finalist! Currently required reading at Loyola College, Kent University and Claremont University.